At its heart, WomenWise Mentoring exists because many women in tech are navigating big career decisions without enough support, perspective or advocacy.

The WomenWise mentoring programme is a 6-month structured, cohort-based experience designed to support women in tech to grow in confidence, clarity and career direction.

Mentees are matched 1:1 with experienced mentors, meet monthly, and are supported by a wider programme of community sessions, workshops, resources and events. It’s thoughtful, intentional, and very human.

The sessions allow mentees to get outside of their comfort zone and be stretched through curated sessions (panels, workshops, webinars) that build community, deepen insight and reinforce learning.

The programme is open to women at different stages of their tech careers - from early-career professionals to women navigating leadership, who are looking for guidance, support, a community and space to think more intentionally about their next steps.

Many of our mentees join because they’re:

• Feeling uncertain about their next move

• Lacking senior role models they can relate to

• Navigating confidence gaps or visibility challenges

• Wanting space to think more strategically about their career

• And many more reasons!

Note: We are only accepting applications from women who have at least 1 year of professional work experience.

A lot of women already have informal mentors - whether it’s a manager or a friendly senior colleague.

What WomenWise Mentoring offers is structure with care.

That means:

• Clear goals (not vague “let’s see how it goes” chats)

• Thoughtful expert matching based on experience and development areas

• Ongoing support from the programme team

• An external community to tap into and peer learn

• Space to reflect, track progress, and actually see change over time

While it’s useful to have helpful conversations (and we encourage you do), a journey with momentum in a structured cohort can make a world of a difference.

Applying is simply a way of telling us who you are, what you’re working towards, and what kind of support would help you.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until the 2nd March 2026. If it looks like there’s a strong alignment, we’ll reach out for an initial conversation to connect and make sure it feels right on both sides.

As a mentor, our application process is fairly similar. We capture a bit about your story to allow us to match you as effectively as possible.

Because the programme is intentionally small and well-supported, places are limited for each cohort.

We’re looking at ambition, intention, proactiveness and an eagerness to develop. If you’re not selected for a particular cohort, it’s not a reflection of your potential, and we often encourage people to stay connected and apply again in the future.

WomenWise Mentoring focuses on long-term growth, confidence and decision-making. While many mentees go on to secure promotions or new opportunities, these outcomes come as a result of the work they do throughout the programme.

We ask that mentees apply with an open mindset, rather than with the expectation of being offered a new role through their mentor relationship.

Mentees and mentors meet 1:1 once a month over six months. Sessions are mentee-led and focus on topics identified as growth areas for the mentee - for example confidence, communication, decision-making, leadership readiness, negotiation, visibility, and navigating complex workplaces.

Alongside 1:1 mentoring, you’ll also be part of a wider cohort experience, including:

• Community workshops and panels with senior leaders and career coaches

• Skills sessions and webinars (including tech and AI-focused learning)

• A launch event at the start and a graduation at the end

It’s structured, but not rigid.

Most participants spend:

• One or two mentoring sessions per month

• Optional (but recommended) time attending community sessions or events, typically 1x per month

• Light reflection or goal-setting between sessions

It’s designed to be meaningful without being overwhelming, and to fit alongside a busy job, not compete with it.

The core mentoring is up to you in your mentoring pair. Most pairs opt for virtual sessions, which allows for more flexibility. We do encourage at least one in person session where possible.

We find that IRL events and connecting is the most impactful for our cohorts. This is why some of our community events are in-person (including our breakfast launch and graduation), but the programme is designed to be as accessible as possible.

Matching is one of the things we take most seriously.

We look at goals, experience, development areas, and working styles - aiming to pair mentees with mentors who genuinely understand the challenges they’re navigating. While no match is ever “perfect”, we prioritise alignment, psychological safety and the ability to have honest, productive conversations.

You’re never doing this alone.

Throughout the programme, both mentors and mentees are supported by the WomenWise Mentoring team. That includes regular check-ins, guidance, resources, and access to a private cohort space with tools, prompts and learning materials.

Every journey is different, but past mentees consistently talk about:

• Greater confidence and clarity

• Feeling more grounded and intentional at work

• Stronger voice and presence in meetings

• Clearer direction on next steps (including promotions, role changes or leadership readiness)

• Stronger feedback from their leadership

• Taking more initiative and ownership at work

• Receving promotions

• Feeling more comfortable asking for feedback and having uncomfortable conversations

Absolutely. Mentors aren’t expected to have all the answers.

We provide mentoring guidance, peer sessions, resources and regular touchpoints to ensure mentors feel confident, supported and connected throughout the programme.

We will also invite you to attend a “Best Practices in Mentoring” session before you start your 1:1s to ensure you feel prepared.

No, the WomenWise Mentoring programme is completely free for both mentees and mentors.

This is made possible thanks to the generosity and commitment of our partners and sponsors, who believe in creating meaningful, long-term support for women in tech.

Their support allows us to deliver a high-quality, structured mentoring experience without passing any cost on to participants.